A new phone scam has affected several people in Stearns County.

Sheriff John Sanner says the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has received reports of a phone scam where people living in Stearns County are being called and told that their grandchild is in jail. The scammers say they are supervisors of the jail and that they need Walmart gift cards to bail the grandchild out.

Several victims have purchased $3,000 and $6,000 gift cards and given the gift card information to the suspects.

Stearns County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public that jails do not operate in this way. Never provide financial information to anyone unfamiliar over the phone. Anyone that may be a victim to this scam should call the Sheriff’s Office and report it.